The UK is one step nearer to a brand new nuclear energy plant after the federal government introduced an extra £14.2bn in funding.
Sizewell C, close to the city of Leiston on the Suffolk coast, is because of be up and working by the mid-2030s.
Whereas the federal government claims the brand new facility represents a “golden age of clean energy” and says it would create 1000’s of jobs – these towards it warn of the catastrophic penalties of a nuclear accident and injury to the native atmosphere.
Right here we have a look at what is because of be constructed on the Sizewell web site – and why the mission is so controversial.
What’s Sizewell C?
The brand new web site will home two nuclear reactors – producing as much as 3.2 gigawatts of electrical energy, which is sufficient to energy six million houses.
The federal government says it may meet 7% of the nation’s whole energy wants for as much as 60 years.
It was initially proposed by the French vitality firm EDF and China’s Basic Nuclear Energy Group, however the earlier authorities purchased the Chinese language firm out of its 20% stake in 2022.
Collectively, the UK authorities and EDF now personal 83.5% of the location.
It’s situated close to Sizewell seashore – subsequent to Sizewell A, a decommissioned nuclear web site that opened in 1967, and Sizewell B, which continues to be working – and was the final nuclear web site to open within the UK in 1995.
The proposed new plant heads up a raft of latest clear vitality measures. Pic: EDF
Earlier funding bulletins imply the state has now invested a complete of £17.8bn, with a remaining funding mannequin resulting from be launched this summer season after personal traders are secured to bridge the hole to the entire £20bn value.
Taxpayer cash is predicted to contribute £700m.
Sizewell in Suffolk within the east of England
How lengthy has it been within the making?
The mission dates again to 2008, when then Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared the UK wanted to spice up its nuclear capability.
There are 4 nuclear websites working within the UK – at Heysham, Hartlepool, Torness, and Sizewell B.
In 2010, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition earmarked Sizewell as a possible new web site.
EDF started consulting with locals within the space in 2012, lastly submitting its growth consent order in Might 2020.
The Sizewell A and B energy stations in Suffolk. Pic: Reuters
It was granted in July 2022 regardless of the Planning Inspectorate’s suggestions it ought to be blocked over environmental issues.
It additionally fought off a judicial review on the Court docket of Attraction introduced by protest group Collectively Towards Sizewell C.
Development by EDF is because of begin within the subsequent yr – and is about to take between 9 and 12 years.
The Suffolk Coast with Sizewell B within the background. Pic: Reuters
Why are individuals towards it?
Two marketing campaign teams – Collectively Towards Sizewell C and Cease Sizewell C – have spearheaded efforts to dam the location.
Domestically, they are saying development will injury 150 hectares of land close by, which is dwelling to 2 completely different nature reserves and 1000’s of birds, animals, and plant species. The enchantment additionally cited issues it will compromise native water provides and should run over finances or fail to even get off the bottom just like the now-scrapped HS2 trainline.
Extra usually, nuclear energy may be very controversial.
Learn extra: Government announces £14.2bn Sizewell funding
Whereas it doesn’t produce carbon emissions like conventional fossil fuels, any nuclear exercise is exceedingly high-risk.
Nuclear fission is the method by which uranium atoms are damaged down into smaller particles to supply warmth, which is then boiled to create steam that powers generators to create electrical energy.
The Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company says all its regulated websites are the “most secure and most safe amenities on the earth” and topic to strict unbiased security measures.
However high-profile nuclear accidents, though extremely uncommon, have leaked lethal radiation into the environment, killing individuals and sure poisoning others for generations to come back.
These embody the explosion on the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine in 1986 and the partial meltdown of one of many reactors on the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan following a tsunami in 2011.
Nuclear fission additionally produces big quantities of radioactive waste, which needs to be safely saved for a whole bunch of years and anti-nuclear campaigners fear concerning the security of those storage websites.
Collectively Towards Sizewell C campaigners outdoors the Royal Courts of Justice in London in 2023. Pic: PA
What are the arguments for it?
The federal government needs to make use of nuclear vitality to assist meet its goal of web zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2050.
Chief govt of the Nuclear Business Affiliation Tom Greatrex has described Sizewell C as a “big step ahead” each for web zero – and vitality safety.
The Ukraine conflict compromised world fuel and oil provides, a lot of which got here from Russia, sending costs rocketing.
Since then, Ukraine’s Western allies have made efforts to develop into extra autonomous with vitality manufacturing.
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Britain’s nuclear sector grew by 1 / 4 to £20bn within the three years to 2024, with one other web site at Hinkley Level in Somerset presently beneath development.
Some nations, like France, the place EDF relies, already rely closely on nuclear energy.
Sizewell C may even create 10,000 new jobs and 1,500 apprenticeships, boosting the native and UK economic system.
Round £330m has been tendered to native firms in contracts, with 70% of all these commissioned going to three,500 British suppliers.
Mr Greatex mentioned: “Sizewell C will present dependable low-carbon energy for greater than 80 years, chopping fuel use, creating 1000’s of high-quality expert jobs, and long-term funding and alternative up and down the nation.”
